is an annual
light novel
A is a type of Genre fiction, popular literature novel from Japan usually classified as young adult fiction, generally targeting Adolescence, teens to Young adult, twenties or older. The definition is very vague, and wide-ranging.
The abbr ...
guide book
A guide book or travel guide is "a book of information about a place designed for the use of visitors or tourists". It will usually include information about sights, accommodation, restaurants, transportation, and activities. Maps of varying det ...
published by
Takarajimasha
is a Japanese publishing company based in Chiyoda, Tokyo. It is known for publishing subculture-oriented fashion magazines aimed at teens, fashion magazines in general, as well as guide books.
History
The company was founded on September 22, ...
. The guide book publishes a list of the top ten most popular light novels according to readers polled on the Internet and votes from "collaborators" (critics, influencers, and other people related to the light novel industry).
An introduction to each of the works comes with each listing, along with an interview of the light novel's author or authors for first place. Many of the light novels that have been listed in this guide book were later adapted into
anime
is a Traditional animation, hand-drawn and computer animation, computer-generated animation originating from Japan. Outside Japan and in English, ''anime'' refers specifically to animation produced in Japan. However, , in Japan and in Ja ...
series. Most of the light novels listed contain a series of volumes, but some single-volume light novels also get listed. The first release of the guide book was on November 26, 2004 and is the 2005 listing. The latest release is the 21st volume on November 26, 2024 and is the 2025 listing.
''
A Certain Magical Index
is a Japanese light novel series written by Kazuma Kamachi and illustrated by Kiyotaka Haimura, which has been published by ASCII Media Works under their Dengeki Bunko imprint since April 2004 in a total of three sep ...
'' has appeared in the top 10 in 10 out of 19 issues, ''
Sword Art Online
is a Japanese light novel series written by Reki Kawahara and illustrated by abec. The series takes place in the 2020s and focuses on protagonists Kazuto "Kirito" Kirigaya and Asuna Yuuki as they play through various virtual re ...
'' has appeared in 9, ''
Ascendance of a Bookworm
, also known as ''AoaB'' or for short, is a Japanese light novel series written by Miya Kazuki and illustrated by You Shiina. It was serialized online from September 2013 to March 2017 on the user-generated novel publishing websit ...
'' appeared in 7 and ''
Baka and Test
, also known as ''Baka and Test: Summon the Beasts'', is a Japanese light novel series written by Kenji Inoue with illustrations by Yui Haga. The series revolves around Akihisa Yoshii, the titular Baka (Japanese word), baka (idiot) and ...
'' appeared in 6. The ''
Haruhi Suzumiya
is a Japanese light novel series written by Nagaru Tanigawa and illustrated by Noizi Ito. It was first published in 2003 by Kadokawa Shoten in Japan with the novel ''The Melancholy of Haruhi Suzumiya'', and has since been followed ...
'' series, the ''
Book Girl
is a collection of Japanese light novels by Mizuki Nomura, with illustrations by Miho Takeoka. The series contains 16 volumes: eight cover the original series, four are short story collections, and four are of a side story. The novels ...
'' series, the ''
Monogatari
is a Literary genre, literary form in traditional Japanese literature – an extended prose narrative tale comparable to epic (genre), epic literature. ''Monogatari'' is closely tied to aspects of the oral tradition, and almost always relates ...
'' series, ''
Bottom-tier Character Tomozaki
, also known as ''The Low Tier Character "Tomozaki-kun"'', is a Japanese light novel series written by Yūki Yaku and illustrated by Fly. Shogakukan has published the series since May 2016 under their Gagaga Bunko imprint. A manga adaptati ...
'', ''
Classroom of the Elite
, abbreviated as ''Yōjitsu'' (よう実) in Japan, is a Japanese light novel series written by Shōgo Kinugasa, with Book illustration, illustration by Shunsaku Tomose.
It was published from May 2015 to September 2019 under Media Factory ...
'' and ''
Mushoku Tensei
is a Japanese light novel series written by and later illustrated by Shirotaka. The series is about a jobless, overweight, reclusive man who dies and is reincarnated in a fantasy world. Retaining the memories from his previ ...
'' have all appeared in 5. ''A Certain Magical Index'' and ''Sword Art Online'' also hold the longest streak in the top 10, with 9 issues in a row each. ''
My Youth Romantic Comedy Is Wrong, As I Expected'' and ''Ascendance of a Bookworm'' have been ranked first 3 times, more than any other series.
The guide book also ranks male characters, female characters and illustrators from all works released each year. Only on three occasions did a series rank first in all four lists in the same issue: ''A Certain Magical Index'' in 2011, ''My Youth Romantic Comedy Is Wrong, As I Expected'' in 2015, and ''
The Angel Next Door Spoils Me Rotten
''The Angel Next Door Spoils Me Rotten'' is a Japanese light novel series written by Saekisan and illustrated by Hanekoto. Originally published online on Shōsetsuka ni Narō, SB Creative has released eleven volumes of the series under thei ...
'' in 2024.
Hall of Fame
The following are series inducted into the Hall of Fame. Series in the Hall of Fame will not be considered in future rankings.
Top 10 light novel rankings
2005–2009
2010–2014
2015–2016
2017–2019
2020–2024
2025–2029
Top 10 female characters rankings
2005–2009
2010–2014
2015–2019
2020–2024
2025–2029
Top 10 male characters rankings
2005–2009
2010–2014
2015–2019
2020–2024
2025–2029
Top 10 illustrator rankings
2010–2014
2015–2019
2020–2024
2025–2029
Top 10 light novels of the decade
Decade of 2010s
See also
*''
Kono Mystery ga Sugoi!
is an annual mystery fiction guide book published by Takarajimasha. The guide book publishes a list of the top ten mystery books published in Japan in the previous year.
1988
''Kono Mystery ga Sugoi! 1988'' (JICC Shuppankyoku. December, 198 ...
''
*''
Kono Manga ga Sugoi!
is an annual reference mook series published by Takarajimasha since 2005 featuring yearly rankings and reviews of manga. The rankings are compiled by surveying professionals in the manga and publishing industry. The first two years saw two s ...
''
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{{reflist
2004 establishments in Japan
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Publications established in 2004
Top book lists